Why do IIM, IIT, central varsity students drop-out? Ex AICTE chairman and education secretary explain

Many more in the general category must have also dropped out. Even one student dropping out would mean the denial of a seat to another who could have completed the course. Is it not the dream for many to get a seat in these prestigious institutions? Then why do students drop-out?

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The current education system is highly stressed. Our colleges and universities are under pressure to deliver on academics and placements. Academic rigour leads to stress on student persistence and success. Add to this the multiple other factors eventually lead students to drop out.

Dropping out could easily be an individual issue. But then, how does one explain dropouts in such large numbers? Does it not seek a review and revision of the factors affecting dropouts? How can we enable the system so that the young men and women successfully complete their courses?

For that to happen, our universities and colleges must introspect. A student’s journey in a higher educational institution is not easy. What must our management, faculty and staff do to retain a student must be seriously discussed?

Students, especially in the first year, need time to adapt to the larger canvas of college life. But before they realise the value of their newfound freedom and understand the many possibilities of campus life, many dropout. Research on higher education confirms that a mere 50 per cent of students make it to graduation without dropping at least a year or without keeping a heavy backlog from previous years.

Undoubtedly, one of the main reasons for dropouts is a high college fee, even as it is subsidised or given free to at least the socially backward groups. However, there are several other expenses besides tuition which add to mounting student debts. Waiving off all student loans must be seriously explored.

Peer and parental pressure also lands many students in colleges and courses which they might be ill-prepared for. Indecisiveness and improper career choices can derail any student’s progress. Students could also be plain unhappy with the college. Aptitude tests, course evaluation and counselling would help.

When one has to leave home to study, living in a hostel or a dormitory can be a challenge. Nagging roommates and overloaded coursework do not help either. Resulting in guilt, distrust, unhappiness and inability to cope with either studies or peers makes matters worse.

In such a situation, a lack of student engagement results in loneliness and boredom. These feelings force students to leave college and return to the comfort of their families back home. This can cause hopelessness and also lead to the loss of life as in several instances in the past.

Engaging and monitoring social life along with academic progress is important. It is extremely necessary that the faculty quota in the reserved categories is filled. The IITs and IIMs have somehow been able to duck this, but then, is it not against the policy and law of the land? If the faculty quota is filled, there would be more faculty from these communities who then can counsel and support the students as mentors.

For those students who are found lacking in academics, opting for remedial classes may not solve the problem. The performance has to be viewed in a larger context. A progressive dip in performance eventually leads to dropouts. Though IITs have prep classes, they are done half-heartedly. They have to be strengthened and made mandatory in other institutions too.

A robust learning management system and student performance analysis would certainly help if timely interventions such as polls, quizzes, notifications, assessments, metrics and rubrics are used.

The coaching culture prevalent in the country has not helped any. It is necessary that the school board marks are given adequate weightage in addition to the entrance exams. In the past, when this was done, there was a marked improvement not only in entry percentages but in retention rates as well, not to mention the increase in the enrollment of girls.

Our universities and colleges must follow “outcome-based education” and strive for imparting “competency-based skills”. Motivation and a sense of purpose are important to a fruitful campus life. Motivational barriers must be overcome. An unmotivating learning environment is an internal barrier, whereas lack of online peer collaboration, absence of social cues and fear of isolation is the external barriers.

Our universities must inculcate the habits of success and acceptance of failure with equanimity, which then become perfect support systems.

Research also shows that most of the dropouts happen in families which are financially vulnerable. Among students in such scenarios, the conflict of interest between home, job and studies can easily cause a breach in education. The need to support families makes them seek any job, leading eventually to a lack of interest in studies altogether.

Research points out that one in three students who drop out also have to support either themselves or their families. Student retention calls for a comprehensive campus management and student life cycles. Nothing can be achieved overnight. However, a lot

can be corrected if only we understand student frustrations and provide appropriate support, and find ways to help students tide over difficult times.

Mantha is the former Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education; Thakur is the former education secretary for the government of India